The German automaker isn’t holding back in its push for electric mobility.

The electric onslaught is coming, whether you like it or not. Jaguar Land Rover hopes to have half of its lineup running on battery power by 2020, and by 2025, VW is expecting to have more than a million electric vehicles on the road. That’s according to a new statement by the German automaker.

According to the company, the transformation from gas to electric will happen in a number of stages. The first will come as a total restructuring; transforming its core business by 2020, evolving “from a niche supplier” into a successful mainstream car maker in North America. That means VW will expand from two SUVs and crossovers in the lineup to as many as 19, and could even include the addition of a new global pickup.

Just five years later, VW “intends to take the lead in e-mobility,” having as many as one million electric vehicles sold per year. Cars like the e-Golf (pictured) and an electric SUV will spearhead the movement, including the possibility of a new battery plant. That’s part two of the global master plan. The two strategies combined will, hypothetically, triple the automaker’s profit margin to six percent by the year 2030.

Unfortunately, part of this strategy involves a cut of as many as 30,000 jobs worldwide and a slash in €3.7 billion ($3.9 billion) worth of expenses. The EV transition will come at a cost of €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion), which will see some of the company’s underperforming models disappear, with the annual investment budget expected to stay at a consistent €4.5 billion ($4.8 billion).

“Over the next few years, Volkswagen will change radically. Very few things will stay as they are,” VW brand chief Herbert Diess said in a statement. “The electric car will become the strategic core of the VW brand.”

Source: Volkswagen

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The Chairman of the Volkswagen brand Board of Management, Dr Herbert Diess, said in Wolfsburg: "Our goals are high and our strategy is very ambitious. We want to benefit from change and to take Volkswagen into the lead in the new automobile industry with determination. Over the next few years, Volkswagen will change radically. Very few things will stay as they are. In the final resort, the new strategy is a major transformation program."

Transformation in three phases

The reorientation of the Volkswagen brand is to take place in three phases. In phase 1, up to 2020, the brand will be entirely restructuring its core business and completing a transformation along the entire value stream. At the same time, the company will develop new competences. In Phase 2, up to 2025, Volkswagen intends to take the lead in e-mobility on the basis of its regained strength as a leading, profitable volume manufacturer. The strategy in this phase aims to create a broader earnings base, for example through new mobility services. Volkswagen also intends to play a key role in shaping the major transformation in the industry expected after 2025. The objective is to achieve a leading role in the new world of mobility by 2030.

Volkswagen aims for global "top of volume" position

A key element of the new strategy is positioning at the top end of the volume segment, near to the premium competitors. To date, Volkswagen has only achieved its objective of becoming "top of volume" in China and Europe. In future, Volkswagen aims to achieve this position throughout the world through a realignment of product strategy – with an SUV offensive in the first stage and the electrification wave in the second stage. A further element of the new strategy is a uniform global brand system with a new design concept.

E-mobility offensive

In future, e-mobility will be part of the Volkswagen brand core. "From 2020, we will be launching our major e-mobility offensive. As a volume manufacturer, we intend to play a key role in the breakthrough of the electric car. We are not aiming for niche products but for the heart of the automobile market. By 2025, we want to sell a million electric cars per year and to be the world market leader in e-mobility. Our future electric cars will be the new trademark of Volkswagen," said the brand CEO.

The e-mobility offensive is to be financed by a number of measures including the discontinuation of certain low-volume, low-earnings conventional models and model variants. This will release funds in excess of €2.5 billion for e-mobility.

A leading role in connectivity

The brand will develop its own digital platform. By adopting this approach, Volkswagen will be moving closer to its customers on the one hand and developing new earnings potential with a comprehensive range of services on the other hand. By 2025, Volkswagen expects to have about 80 million active users throughout the world. This would mean that the brand would have the leading digital ecosystem in the entire automotive industry. Volkswagen estimates that its sales revenue from services related to networked vehicles will reach about €1 billion per year by 2025 and expects a significant contribution to earnings from this business area.

Turnaround for the regions

In North America, Volkswagen intends to evolve from a niche supplier into a relevant and profitable volume producer. Diess: "We will be significantly stepping up our activities in the USA. The main focus will be on the key segments in the country, large SUVs and limousines. In those segments, we will be strongly expanding our range. In a second stage, we will then take our new electric cars to North America. Over the next few years, we will be making considerable investments in electric infrastructure." Local production of MEB vehicles is to start from 2021.

In China, Volkswagen intends to strengthen the "top of volume" position it has already reached. This will be achieved by an SUV offensive and by rapidly launching electric vehicles. In China, Volkswagen also aims to benefit from the potential in the strongly growing economy segment. Work has already started on the development of appropriate models. In other major markets such as India, South America and Russia, Volkswagen also intends to develop the economy segment.

Transformation of corporate culture and organization

The strategic offensive is to be supported by a comprehensive organizational reform. The reorganization will aim for agility, a stronger entrepreneurial spirit, a more transparent discussion culture, flatter hierarchies and more flexible working models. This will be backed by a new corporate mission – with specific goals as regards earnings power, sustainability and attractiveness as an employer– as well as a new leadership model and a broad-based integrity campaign.

Profitable growth through higher sales revenue and lower costs

The brand Board of Management expects a significant increase in sales revenue over the next 10 years as a result of the consistent implementation of the TRANSFORM 2025+ program. At the same time, the profitability of the brand is to improve considerably. The operating margin is to double from about 2 percent in 2015 to 4 percent by 2020, with a further increase to 6 percent by 2025. Further improvements are aimed for after 2025.

A key step towards profitability safeguarding the future of the brand will be the pact for the future presented on 18 November. Specifically, the pact for the future is to have a positive impact on earnings of €3.7 billion per year by 2020, with the German facilities accounting for €3.0 billion.

Over the next few years, the Volkswagen brand will keep its investments stable at about €4.5 billion. Together with improved operating earnings power, this will result in significant positive net cash flow in the medium term.